From artist Stephen Kasner:
This is a very rare, heartfelt painting from memory of the childhood home of one of America's most notorious Serial Killers, Henry Lee Lucas. Lucas often referred to the four-room cabin in Montgomery County, Virginia where he was born and raised, and based on what is known, this is surely where his transformation from an innocent into one of the most sadistic serial killers in American history began.
"...My old log cabin in Virginia where I grew up and has grate [sic] meaning to me."The majority of Lucas' large paintings did not exceed 18" x 24." This piece, measuring at 22" x 28", is the largest I have seen in over 20 years of collecting Serial Killer art. The bright colors and almost warmth that emanates from the delicately painted imagery is a tremendously strange view of the psyche, and even perhaps longing by a man America knew to have 'learned to kill' by the "Hand of Death."
"I don't know much about painting. Some turn out pretty good expecialy [sic] from Memory.
Your friend,
Henry Lee Lucas"
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(Click to Enlarge)
The back of this heavy-gauge art board is a strange piece of history in and of itself, with many random markings and straight razor cuts (and some dried blood?) made by Lucas. It seems like he may have used this board for a kind of easel or 'desktop' before deciding to paint it, in the process leaving an eerie mist of his past carved directly into the board.
With sale, I will include a photocopy of the hand-written letter by Henry Lee Lucas that explains the meaning of the imagery. This serves as an ultimate article of authentication.
This sale also includes an original "Demon Head" marker drawing by Lucas' killing partner and lover: the mentally retarded transvestite cannibal, Ottis Toole. Alone and with Lucas, Toole restlessly roved all over this country robbing, raping, burning and killing, attacking America more like an epidemic plague than a human being. Among his victims, was America's Most Wanted host John Walsh's 6 year old son, Adam Walsh.
Toole was known to, at one point, draw these twisted, demonic 'self-portraits' obsessively. It's a fitting and mandatory companion piece to the Lucas painting.
Both Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole are now dead. These pieces, obviously, cannot be found elsewhere, and can never be replaced. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; your chance to own a piece of American Serial Killer history.
For more information, please contact Stephen Kasner, via email. Serious inquiries only, please.
Updated on December 09, 2009.